Circulation Policy

The Holyoke Community College Library extends borrowing privileges to its own students, faculty, and staff as well as the students, faculty, and staff of CLGS institutions (Cooperating Libraries of Greater Springfield), and the general public. Students must present a validated HCC photo identification card at the circulation desk in order to borrow library material. CLGS users are required to present a valid I.D. card from their college. The general public may apply for an HCC resident card. Students from area secondary and grammar schools may apply for an HCC library card by presenting their school I.D. or a letter from their school librarian on school letterhead. All users are entitled to full use of the HCC Library and accept the obligations and responsibilities that this courtesy entails.

Replacement Cards
Members of the HCC community who lose their photo I.D.s must obtain a replacement card from Student Services. For non-HCC users, the first library card issued is free. There is a $3.00 fee for each replacement card.

Borrowing Terms
Library books and most AV material circulate for three weeks. Video tapes and DVDs may be charged out for 2 days with a limit of two items per patron. Secondary and grammar school students are limited to 3 books per patron and no renewal. For other patrons, items may be renewed if no hold has been placed on the item. Items must be brought into the Library for renewal or you can renew them online. Renewals are not taken over the telephone.
The HCC Library extends circulation privileges to library users outside of its immediate community of students, faculty, and staff. Patrons who are not students, faculty, and staff are allowed an overall charge limit of 10 items on their HCC account. This includes a limit of 2 DVDs/VHS. HCC secondary and pre-secondary school patrons have an overall limit charge of 3 items (no DVD/VHS.)

Returning Library Material
Library material may be returned during regular business hours. After hours, books may be returned to the book return outside of the Library entrance. AV materials must not be put in the book return box.

Overdue Charges
The service fee for overdue library material is 20 cents per day per item. Overdue DVDs and videotapes are $1.00 per day.

Delinquent Accounts
Patrons who have material a month overdue are assessed a billing charge of $2.00 in addition to the accumulated late charges. Borrowing privileges may be suspended for any patron with excessive overdue material or fines at the HCC Library and other libraries in the C/WMARS network. Please contact the Circulation Desk with questions regarding individual accounts. Failure to settle delinquent accounts may result in the registrar's office withholding grades and transcripts.

It is the responsibility of the Dean of Library Services to ensure that material in the HCC Library is available to the greatest number of users. Therefore, in exceptional cases, the Dean of Library Services reserves the right to limit the number of items that a patron may borrow if the patron has demonstrated a consistent abuse of circulation privileges at the HCC Library or any other C/WMARS library. Full borrowing privileges will be restored at the discretion of the Dean of Library Services at the end of the semester if the patron has no outstanding obligations to any C/WMARS library.

The HCC Library extends circulation privileges to library users outside of its immediate community of students, faculty, and staff. Patrons who are not students, faculty, and staff are allowed an overall charge limit of 10 items on their HCC account. This includes a limit of 2 DVDs/VHS. HCC secondary and pre-secondary school patrons have an overall limit charge of 3 items (no DVD/VHS.

More Information
Please contact the Circulation Desk at 413-552-2372